Dismountable portal crane



18, 1955 H. F. J. BERNAERTS 2,699,874

DISMOUNTABLE PORTAL CRANE Filed Sept. 15, 1952 4 Shets-Sheet 1 Jan. 18, 1955 H. F. J. BERNAERTS 2,699,874 DISMOUN'I'ABLE PORTAL CRANE Filed Sept. 13 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1955 H. F. J. BERNAERTS 2,699,874

DISMOUNTABLE PORTAL CRANE Fild Sept. 15, 1952 4 sheets-sheet 3 was Jan. 18, 1955 H. F, J. BERNAERTS DISMOUNTABLE PORTAL CRANE 4 Sheets-$heet 4 Filed Sept. 13, 1952 II I! 1/ faces.

turned upwards, prevents rotation of the caster. drawbar serves, therefore, not only for controlling the rear caster during the displacement of the crane, but serves as a brake when the crane stands still.

United States Patent 9 DISMOUNTABLE PORT-AL CRANE Henrieus F. JsBernaerts, Weert,Netherlands Application September 13, 1952, Serial him-309,482

Claims priority, application Netherlauds September 18, 1951 3 Claims. (Cl. 212- 13) The invention relates to a portal crane which maybe dismounted easily and more especially to a portalcrane evident that the weight of i the crane must be as low-as f possible in relation to a definite liftingecapacity.

The portal crane accordingto the invention is characterised by a horizontal central main girder which is of the box type and towhich the supporting columns,

also having box profiles, are disinountably attached. It has been foundthat a crane whichis constructed in this way fulfills the above-mentioned requirements.

It is useful to construct the crane in such a way that its various parts are attachedto-each other by means of flat flanges having relatively large contacting sur- Two laterally extending, curved and generally L-shaped supporting columns may be'provided at opposite sides of the central main'girder, while a single curved, and generallyL-shapedsupporting column may be provided at the rear end of the main girder, and in the vertical plane of the latter.

'In the right angles betweenthe laterally-extending L-shaped supporting columns and the main girder triangular stiffening membersmay be provided in such a way that they may be readily detached. The resistance of the structureagainst torsional deflection of the main girder is hereby considerably increased. The lower part of one or more of the supporting columns maybe provided with a detachable end, carrying a travelling wheel.

The supporting element of the hind-most travelling wheel or caster is preferably rotatably mounted on a vertical axis and connected with a drawbarwhrch, whgn T is The lower ends of the supporting columns may be connected together by means of detachable connecting rods to provide additional rigidity when the crane is moved about. Said connecting rodsmaybeuseful for positioning the crane exactly in the center of an airplane being worked upon. For this purpose, the connecting rods maybe directed'rearwardly and attached crosswise to two fixed points, for example, it the wheels of a plane, while the transversely disposed connecting rod which is composed of two halves, has each of-its halves connected with one of the above mentioned points. This ensures a rigid connectionbetweenplane and crane, in which the longitudinal axis of the plane and that of the crane coincide.

Below the box profile of the main girdertwo longitudinal bars having L-shaped cross-sections are preferably provided, which bars form together the path or track for the carrying wheels of a travelling crab.

It is very useful to stiffen the box-profile of the main girder and/or thesupporting columns by means :of a

plurality of transverse internal Walls.

According to the invention adetachablehinged connection may further be provided along the edges of two flanges, which are to be connected atogether.

Such detachable hinge connectionsconsiderably faciliof the crane.

Patented J an. 18, .1955

"ice

ample, by means of bolts.

According to the invention it is desirable to dispose the spindles or pins of the hinges for the supporting columns provided at opposite sides of the main girder paral'lel to the longitudinal direction of the main girder-and'the hinge spindle of the supporting column provided at the rear end of the main girder perpendicularly with respect to said longitudinal direction. This makes it possible to lay out the four main parts of the cra-neflat onthe ground, to connect them with each otherin a hinged manner and then to hoist the main girderso that the different flanges are brought into the correct-position with respect to each other, after which the fastening bolts may be applied.

it is further useful to provide winding mechanism for the cables of the travelling crab, which maybe displacedin longitudinal direction with respect to -the main girder, at the lower end of the hind-mostsupporting column. Thewinding mechanism acts thus-as a counterweight if the hoisting load of the travellingcrab is at its maximum, which is especially of importance if it is situated at the front end of themain girder.

.it is furtheruseful to provide the supporting column-with clampsfor keeping the cables of the winding mechanism together when the crane has been dismounted.

The invention comprises further a detachable: fastening meansfor the cable or the connecting rod which is-extremely useful with the portal crane inquestion.

This detachable fastening improves the dismountability According to the invention the cable is provided with a truncated cone-shaped end which is passed through an aperture in a fastening wall, especially the Wallat thefront ofthe central main girder, said aperture having a diameter which isequal to orlarger than the largeshdiameter of the cone, and Ftheco'neshaped-end fits in a sleeve made up of two separable "halveswhich together define a conical bore, said'sleeve being housed in a hollow boss bearing .against :the fastening wall. If the crane is to be dismountedlthe truncated cone-shaped end of the cable is pushed .back inrelation to thesleeve, whereupon the two halvesof the latter may be removed from the hollow boss, zto

. permit theconical end of the cable then totpasstthrough .the aperture inthefastening wall. :bemg assembledone proceeds just the other way around.

When the crane. is

Theiinvention will be further explained with. reference totthe embodiments represented in the drawing.

Fig. 1 shows aside view of a portal crane whichimay "be takento. pieces according to theinvention, and wherein the travelling crab and the load hook are shown :in

different r positions.

Pig -6.

Fig. 9.is a sectional detailed view ofafastening device for the cable.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a-portion of the crane inFigs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view takenzalong the .line "1 1-11 of-Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to Figs. 1 to.5 thereof, it will be seen that the crane according to :theinvention comprises a main girder 1. This main girder :isofa square box profile and composed offlatsheets which arewelded together. Adjacent thetfrontendofvthe columns 2 and 3 are provided and extend laterally and downwardly at the opposite sides of the main girder. A single supporting column 4 is provided at the rear end of the main girder 1. The supporting columns 2, 3 and 4 preferably also have box profiles of square cross section. The columns 2, 3 and 4 are at the lower ends thereof provided with lateral flanges 2c, 30 and 4c to which corresponding flanges of extensions 5, 6 and 7 carrying travelling wheels or casters 8, 9 and 10 are removably secured, as by bolts 2d, 3d, and 4d. These wheels may be of the simple or the multiple type. The support for the caster 9 is provided with a vertical shaft about which the support can rotate. This considerably facilitates the movement of the crane. During such displacement or movement, the crane may be controlled by means of a drawbar 11. When this drawbar 11 is turned upwards it brakes the crane, for example, by lifting the caster 9 ofi the supporting surface with the aid of a supporting plate 25.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the supporting columns 2 and 3 are provided with flanges 2a and 3a at the ends to be connected to the main girder, and suitable bolts 2!; and 3b extend through the flanges 2a and 3a and corresponding flanges on the main girder to rigidly attach the supporting columns to the latter. Similarly, the rear end of the main girder and the upper end of column 4 are provided with mating Z-shaped flanges 1a and 4a which contact over a large area and which are rigidly secured together by removable bolts 1b.

The connections between the supporting columns 2 and 3 and the main girder 1 are stiffened with the aid of triangular stiffening members 12 and 13 which are attached to the columns 2 and 3 and to the main girder 1 by flat flanges 12a and 12b, and 13a and 13b having large surfaces contacting the columns and main girder and through which securing bolts extend into suitably tapped holes in the columns and girder. The parts 12 and 13 are curved to form parts of a cylindrical surface, as seen in Fig. 3.

The lower ends of the extension 5, 6 and 7 of the supporting columns are connected by means of detachable connecting rods 14, 15 and 16. This is of special importance during displacement of the portal crane. The crane may be anchored in a definite position with respect to another object, for example, an aircraft, by detaching the rods 14, 15 from extension 7 and attaching them crosswise to two points, for example, the wheels of the aircraft, so that the rods assume the positions indicated in broken lines at 14 and 15 of Fig. 2. The transverse bar 16, which consists of two halves, is separated and the two halves are then extended forwardly, as at 16', and also connected to the aircraft wheels.

The main girder is at its lower side provided with two longitudinal bars 17, 18 (Fig. 4) each having an L-shaped cross-section, which bars together formed a track for supporting wheels 19, 20 of a travelling crab21. The travelling crab carries a pulley having a load hook 22. With the aid of a known winding mechanism (not shown) the travelling'crab can be displaced in the longitudinal direction along the track, while the winding mechanism is at the same time capable of hoisting and lowering the load hook 22. The cables which are required for effecting such movements are connected to the travelling crab and the pulley of the load hook respectively. 7

As is seen in Fig. 5, the box profile of the main girder 1 is provided with a plurality of transverse walls 23, 24 for increasing the rigidity of the girder.

The profiles which have been used in the construction of the crane may be composed of flat sheets which are united together by welding and bent into the required shapes.

In the embodiment according to Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 10 the connecting flanges between the main girder, the supporting columns and the lower extensions of the supporting columns are provided with detachable hinged connections generally identified by the reference characters S1, S2, S3, S4, S and S6 which facilitate the mounting and dismounting of the crane.

As seen in Figs. 6, 7 and 10, the hinges S1 are formed by two parallel plates 40 extending laterally across the top of girder 1 at the location where the columns 2 and 3 are to be secured to the main girder, and hinge elements 41 and 42 respectively secured to the upper surfaces of columns 2 and 3 and projecting beyond the end of the latter, with the plates 40 and elements 41 and 42 having openings therein which register when the plates andhinge elements are overlapped to receive hinge pins 43. Thus, the hinge pins 43 provide swinging axes for the columns 2 and 3 along the upper edges of the flanges 2a and 3a so that the related columns can be swung to bring the flanges 2a and 3a into facial contact with the sides of the girder 1 to which they are then secured by suitable bolts 2b and 3b (Fig. 10).

As seen in Figs. 6 and 7, the hinge S2 is formed by hinge elements 44 and 46 secured, as by welding, to the upper surfaces of the main girder and rear column at the rear and upper ends, respectively, thereof, and a hinge pin 46 extending through suitable registering openings in the hinge elements 44 and 45 to define a swinging axis for the column 4 relative to the girder 1 adjacent the upper edges of the flanges 1a and 4a. Thus, the column 4 can be swung about the axis defined by the hinge pin 46 to bring the flange 1a and 4a into facial contact prior to securing such flanges together with the bolts 1b.

The constructions of the hinges S3, S4, S5 and S6 are all similar, with the exceptions that the hinges S3 and S4 have their swinging axes disposed at the front sides of the related columns 2 and 3, while the hinges S5 and S6 have their swinging axes disposed at the rear side of the column 4. Referring in detail to Fig. 6 and 11, wherein the details of construction of the hinge S3 are illustrated, it will be seen that the flange 20 at the lower end of the column 2 is formed with portions 47 along its forward edge defining portions or parts of a hinge barrel and interfitting with corresponding portions 48 at the forward edge of the mating flange on the extension 5 to define a complete hinge barrel through which a hinge pin 49 is extended. Thus, the pin 49 defined an axis around which the extension 5 can be swung relative to the column 2 prior to securing together of the mating flanges by the bolts 2d.

When the crane is to be mounted or assembled, the different parts are laid out on the floor in the correct position with respect to each other, whereupon the hinged connections S1-S6 are effected by inserting the hinge pins in the related hinge barrels or elements. Then, the main girder 1 is lifted by means of the eyes 28 thereon, for example, with the aid of a crane truck, and the hinges rotate to bring the related flanges into facial contact with each other, whereupon connecting bolts can now be passed through the holes of the flanges and tightened to secure the latter rigidly to each other so that the crane is then ready for use. If the crane must be taken to pieces e or disassembled, the girder 1 is first supported at the eyes 28, and the bolts securing together the various flanges are removed, so that, as the girder is lowered, the supporting columns swing about in related hinge axes and spread out from the girder until the entire assembly rests upon the ground to permit easy removal of the hinge pins.

With this embodiment the winding mechanism 26 is provided at the lower end of the hind-most supporting column 4. When this supporting column must be dismounted the cables for the travelling crab need not be detached from the winding mechanism, but in order to prevent the cables from being displaced with respect to the pulleys of the winding mechanism, it is useful to clamp the cables together in stretched condition by means of the clamps 27 shown in Fig. 8. When the crane is dismounted the cables obviously must be disengaged from the travelling crab 21.

The manner in which the cable is fastened is further illustrated in Fig. 9. In this view the numeral 30 represents the end of the central main girder 1, in which the extremity of the cable 31 is fastened.

The cable 31 is provided with a truncated cone-shaped end, consisting of a cable-nipple 32 and an insertion 33 which has been driven between the cores of the cable. The parts 32 and 33 are attached to each other by solder 34. The conical end of the cable is inserted in a sleeve 35 formed of two diametrically separable parts which together define a conical bore and the sleeve is in turn inserted in a hollow boss 36, which bears against the wall 30 and is connected therewith by welding. As seen in the drawing, the outer diameter of sleeve 35 is larger than the diameter of the opening or aperture 37 in wall 30 through which the cable end extends. Thus, in securing the cable end to wall 30, the nipple bearing end of the cable is passed through opening 37 and hollow boss 36 and the two halves of sleeve 35 are positioned on the nipple 32. When the cable is then pulled toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 9, the cone shaped nipple 32 wedges into the conical bore of sleeve 35 and spreading apart of the halves of the latter is resisted by boss 36 so that the sleeve 35 pggvents passage of the cable end through the opening When the crane is to be dismounted, the end of the cable 31 is displaced to the left as viewed in Fig. 9, so that the split, two-part sleeve 35 is removed axially from hollow boss 36, whereupon the two halves of sleeve can be diametrically separated and taken oil the cable end. Having been thus stripped of the two-part sleeve 35, the nipple 32 at the end of cable 31 can then pass in the direction toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 9, through the opening 37 in wall 30 so that the cable 31 is then freed.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to these precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be efiected therein, by one skilled in the art, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A portal crane comprising a centrally disposed, hori zontal main girder of hollow, rectangular cross-section, a track for a travelling crab depending from said main girder, a pair of substantially L-shaped supporting col umns, said supporting columns being longitudinally curved and having hollow, rectangular cross-sections, flat flange means and securing means passing therethrough dismountably fastening said supporting columns to said main girder at locations adjacent one end of the latter so that the supporting columns extend outwardly and then downwardly at the opposite sides of the main girder, a third substantially L-shaped supporting column which is longitudinally curved and has a hollow, rectangular cross section, and flat flange means and securing means passing therethrough dismountably fastening said third supporting column to said main girder at the other end of the latter with said third supporting column lying in the vertical plage passing through the longitudinal axis of said main gir er.

2. A portal crane according to claim 1; wherein each of said flat flange means includes a flat flange on the end of each of said supporting columns to be fastened to said main girder and a corresponding flat flange on each of the opposite sides of said main girder adjacent said one end of the latter and at said other end of the main girder for facial contact with said flat flanges on the related sup porting columns; and wherein said securing means includes hinge pins removably extending through said flanges on the main girder and the related flanges on said supporting columns to permit swinging of the latter relative to said main girder, and securing bolts removably extending through said flanges on the supporting columns and the related flanges on said main girder to rigidly hold said supporting columns on said main girder and prevent swinging about the axes of said hinge pins.

3. A portal crane according to claim 2; wherein said hinge pins removably connecting the flanges of said supporting columns to the related flanges on said main girder are disposed along the top edges of the connected together flanges; and wherein said hinge pins associated with the flanges on said pair of columns are arranged with their axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of said main girder, and said hinge pin associated with the flange of said third column is disposed with its axis extending horizontally and at right angles to said longitudinal axis of the main girder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,593,261 Holmes July 20, 1926 2,289,366 Johnson July 14, 1942 2,343,014 Langan Feb. 29, 1944 

